Reduction block



REDUCTION BLOCK Filed Jan. 14, 1922 iff/14 Patented May 10, 192?.

NETE STAES rezagos ELLSWORTI-I J. HANNA, 0F OTTUMWA., OWA.

REDUCTION BLOCK.

Application filed January 14, 1922.

This invention relates to improvements in reduction blocks or pulleys which are used in conjunction with cranes, derricks, or other lifting devices. In practice the load to be lifted by a crane or hoist is often much less than the maximum capacity thereof and time is lost by the slow lift occasioned by the action of the reduction block with which the crane is equipped.

The object of this invention is to provide a reduction block, in the use of which, when a small load is to be lifted, the reduction feature of the block may be wholly eliminated or to lessen the reduction power thereof if it is one of a multiple reduction type, thus enabling the crane or hoist to effect a straight lift of the load or to lift it in less time. than would be required if the complete reduction powers of the block were utilized. This object is attained by providing a block with a locking device which is actuatable to grip the cable on the anchor side of the block, whereupon, as will be clear, the block, together with the load carried thereby, will be supported entirely by the cable on the drinn or power side thereof.

@ther objects relate to features lof construction and arrangement which will more fully hereinafter appear, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereini Figure 1 is a side elevation of a two sheave reduction block, showing my cablelocking` mechanism Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

F ig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of F ig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking plate;

F ig. l5 is an elevation of the same;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the cable-engaging coil;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view thereof; and

F ig. 8 shows diagraimnatically my improved block suspended by a cable between a winding' drum and a point` of anchor.

Similar reference characters indicate the same elements throughout the drawings, in which- 10 indicates generally the casing of my improved reduction block which carries a pair of sheaves 11, 11 upon a shaft 12, the construction of such parts being of any pre- Serial No. 529,162.

ferred form. A load supporting hook 13 is 'a "ried by and suitably swiveled in the yoke la, through which the shaft 12 extends. The yoke, in the embodiment of the double reduction block herein illustrated, is provided with a pair of upwardly extending brackets 15,. 15, which in their upper' portions lie substantially in the. respective planes of the sheaves 11, 11, as shown in lig. 2. shaft 1G extends through the upper portions of the brackets 15, 15 and carries thereon a pair of locking plates, 17, 17, each having an elongated hole 1711, through which said shaft extends, said plates being retained in position on the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, by the spacing tube 18. One end of each of the locking plates is suitably reinforced and provi-ded with a portion offset from the plane of the plate body, as shown, this offset portion 19 having a groove 19a of suitable diameter to receive therein the hoisting cable 2O and, preferably, having the general curvature shown in Figs. 1 and 5, for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. The opposite end of each of the plates 17 is U-shaped, and has the free end overlying a portion of the surface of the corresponding bracket when in assembled relation as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The surface of the edge 15 of bracket 15 is concave and has threads 15'd therein corresponding to resilient coil 21, which is secured in the position shown in Fig. 1 by said threads and coacting threads 17h formed in the inner curved portion of the plate 17-see Fig. L1. The bore of the coil 21 is such that the cable 20 will pass freely therethrough, and a suitable slot 15b to receive said cable is provided in the plate guide 15C. which is preferably formed integral with the bracket 15.

In Operation the cableextends from the winding drum 22 of any hoisting apparatus to and around the sheave of my improved reduction block, and thence to a point of anchorage 23, if the block be one of a single sheave only. 1f the block be one of greater reduction power as shown in the embodiment of my invention herewith disclosed, the cable, after passing the first sheave of my block, passes around the sheave of an ordinary reduction pulley, usually carried by the crane, thence again to my device, and so on to the final point of anchorage on the crane. 1t will be understood that the runs of the lll til!

cable entent'lingg between the sheaves ol my reflection block :incl the sait'l peint oit :1nchorage or other pulleys carried by the l1oieting apparatus pass through the reilpective colle` il carrietl bj; said block.

-lllhcn it is tlesiretl to use infr device as an ordinary reduction bleek, the able enters the block, as shown by dotted lines in Fi@ l. Il the block is ot e Single sheeve antl the loatl to be li'ttetl rctpiires lee" one-ball the niiniinnni poner ol the ,zitting crane, a saving et linie required tor making lthe litt can be etlecteil bjr eliminating` the retlnction porter ot the blot-lt. 'lliie it; tiene b r inclining the top ol' the bloei; shown in Fig. l to the right. antl insertinev the power rnn otz cable :'tl into tbe groote lil, as shown in ltill linee in saiil ligure. V.lfhe bool; i3 then seein-eel to the loatl to be lit'tett, and as the rable becoi'ncf.; tant entier the action oit the hoistinv mechanism, the plate tl" having.; drawn the pijlv et cable to the lett is niorelfl to the right., as Vien'etl in lfig. l, and canees the coils 2l to creep in the snrronncl.- ingI threads l5 and il thee etlecting a retlnction in tliaimter o'l` the coil cnil a lirni grippin` ot the cable passing therethrough. It will be clear that al'ter this engagement oi" the cable occurs the entire wel it oit the loatl *arrietl by hoek lil will. bc borne by the single plyv olf cable onA the power slicle oit the block` enel, that the anchor side oit the cable above the coil will hang` itllc. shown in Fig. t3 this slack nifty be taken care et by a Weight Ell;` thus preclinling1 anyv danger ol the idle cable becoming entangled with the block or loacl.

.it will be seen thin', the plate ll" can lnove only in a subs-tent'iallyv horixontal direction, :is tiewetl in Fig. 'lt` because ot the guiding action ot' the lng; jl. hereinbe'tere mentioned, and that tlr iiim'ei'iieiit et the plate causes a nniitorin gripping ol.' the cable tlnfotighinit the length ot the coil. lt will also be apparent that the heavier the loatl carried by the hooltV the more tightlyY will the coil be preesetl into gripilingl contact with the cable :intl that this will be the ell'ect also (lne to the tapered itiiction snrtaces et' the coil, Atroni an); tendency ot the saine to elip `from the snrroinnling tlireatls in which it is retainetl.

ltr will be eeen that the invention above tleecribetl ie atlaptell for use on single as well as multiple silicate bloclts, antl the t when neetl with blocks ot thc latter el. the saine may' be conrerteil to blocks ot n retin@ tion by locking' anyy tlesirell rnn ol' cable at; above filescribecl, or the entire reflection power et the bloeit ,may be eliniinatetl by adjusting; the proper locliine4 inechaniein.

fltlthongh l have shon'n and tletstrrihell a certain l'orin o'i niflv invention, it is obtiene that changes may be inatle therein without departing troni the scope thereof; and, l do notlm there-tore, wish to be restricted. to the torni shown and described, except Where so liinitietl in the claims.

lllbet ll elaine is:

l.. ln combination a reflection block, a cable inoralfile therethronggh, :incl nieane ae-- sociatetl with :faitl bloclt atliiptcil to be contractetl into engagement with finiti cable to leesen thtl reflection poncr ot eaicl block.

if. .ln combination a Vretlnction block llavinp' a plurality ol' shcaree, a cable niovable through sant lilocl; aint coacting` with salti eiwitten, :intl incline atlaptetfl to engage salti cnl'ile to prevent n'ioreinent thereoit relatively to any tleniretl Sheave.

il. in combination a retlnction block7 a ciible running' therethrongln ineens to grip neil locli :iaitl fable to eaitl bloclt Alor elimination olf reduction thereby, Said ineens having an opening; therein thro vjh which said cable plissee, saitl means being act'uatable by the loatl carrictl by eaitl block.

-l;. l'n conibin-ition :i reduction block haw init; a she-ave, a :able ot' substantially smooth exterior reacting therewith, means to lock Haiti cable relative to eaitl block and inclepentlentl \1 el saitl eheare :t'or tlirect n1ovenient oit one run ot saliti cable with said block in either ilircc `ion.

Il. in combination a movable reduction blocl:N a cable eteinlingl therethrough, ineens to loch one rnn et Saitl cable to said block against relative niovelnent in either tlirection` eaitl means comprising a nien'iber engagging.; :intl :ctnateil by the other run ot Said cable.

ti. lfn combination, :i reduction blocli'hai in@1 a vibrare? a cable ot Sebetantially smooth ont; vior normally coacting; therewith, and :oleane carrietl by saitl block above said shetwe 'lor preventing relative movement in either direction ot :s-laitl cable thert'fthrongh.

T. ln combination, a reelection blocle a cable nioi'able therethrough, a bracket carrietl by aaitl block, anti ineens comprising :i ,eliileble ineinber anti a :ableenrroending gripping; incniher carried by saicl bracket l'or preventing the niorcnicnt ot eaitl cable tlnoitegli eaitl blocli.

t-l. ln combination, a reelection block, a cable inorablc therctlnrontgh, coiletl cablegripping' nicane aeeociatecl with Said block, :intl incane atlapt'etl to ectnate saitl gripping llllftllt.

il. Vtn combination, a rel'lnction block, a cable movable tlicrethconigli, coiled cable `fripping ineens aesociateil with eaitl block, a inovable nicniber ailapteil to actnate saicl `tripping incanti into circlnntcrential contact with saitl cable, anni a, guide adapted to cli-A rcct the nim'einciit ol' eaitl ineinber.

itl, ln conibinatioin a reflection blocki` a cable movable theretlnongh, a bracket carrictl by naitl bloclr` a plate elitlably carried by saitl lin-ticket7 :intl coiled able-gripping tltl l Utl lill) means actuatable by the movement of said plate.

11. In combination, a reduction block, a cable movable therethrough, cable-gripping means supported adjacent said block and circun'iferentially surrounding a portion of said cable, and means for actuating said gripping means.

l2. In combination a reduction block, a cable running therethrough, a coiled gripping member having a liattened gripping surface actuatable to engage said cable, and means for actuating said gripping member.

13. In combination, a reduction block, a cable associated therewith, a bracket supported by said block, a plate carried by said bracket, compressible gripping means carried by said bracket and said plate, and means for electing a compression of said gripping means to prevent the movement of said cable relatively thereto.

14. In combination a reduction block, a cable movable therethrough, a bracket carried by said block, said bracket having a threaded portion, a plate movable relatively to-said bracket and having a threaded portion complemental to the threaded portion of said bracket, a resilient coil secured by said threaded portions, said cable passing therethrough, and means for contracting said coil into locking contact with said cable.

In testimony whereof, I have Subscribed my name.

ELLSVORTH J HANNA. 

